APNU censures Finance Minister for alleged drunk driving; urges police to prosecute justly

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Joseph Harmon on Wednesday (February 26) expressed grave disappointment in the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh following reports of drunk driving and leaving the scene of an accident without rendering assistance.

Dr. Singh on Sunday, February 23 (Mash night) crashed his Pathfinder vehicle into another car at the corners of Delph Avenue and Garnett Street, Georgetown.

According to Harmon the reports that emanated in the media following the accident shows a clear bifurcation of responsibility on the Minister’s part. He contends that the Minister as a senior member of the political hierarchy in Guyana should have demonstrated greater moral standards and remained at the scene to render whatever assistance he could have since he escaped unhurt.

Meanwhile, on the subject of drunkenness which the Minister has not refuted, Harmon is urging the police to do their job and ensure that he is dealt with accordingly since a law was broken.

“They must deal with him accordingly if he was in fact drunk; you can’t have one law for the poor and another for the rich… not because he is Minister,” he added.

On Tuesday February 25 when quizzed about the issue, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, who is also the Head of the political party to which Dr. Singh belongs, would only say that it was a police matter.

To this end Harmon said Rohee must distinguish his political duties from his ministerial ones and ensure that Dr. Singh does not escape the law because he is a Minister.

There has been no word from the Minister since or the police on the process/progress of prosecution. There were reports in the media that efforts were being made to compensate the driver of the vehicle along with his lone passenger who both claimed they suffered minor injuries.

Eyewitnesses told iNews moments after the accident on February 23 that the Minister ‘jumped’ the intersection when he crashed into a 192 model taxi.
Eyewitnesses had also said then that the Minister who hurriedly left the scene appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.